It was clear that after our haul out, with 2 nice clean hulls devoid of aquatic flora, that our speed through the water had significantly increased. Even just motoring around the lagoon we noted at least a 1 knot increase in speed for the same revs. So now that this factor has been eliminated, we’ll …
It had become increasingly noticeable (and frustrating) to see how much the performance of the boat was being affected by the dirty hull. In regular sailing conditions (ie +/- 15 knots and an albeit conservative sail plan) we were struggling to get the boat to sail well. Even motoring we were losing at least half …
After Edward & Alicia departed we felt a little flat – I guess it just highlighted our isolation from all our family at the moment & we miss them all. Certainly a different experience with just Bill & I than the partially controlled mayhem that accompanied our circumnavigation with 3 kids 18 years or so …
It was fabulous to have our oldest son, Edward & his fiancée, Alicia visit and stay with us for just over 2 weeks. We hadn’t seen them since we left in April, so it was so good to catch up & share all our respective news. Not the least of which included details of ‘the …
It has been just over a month since I returned from Italy. I went there to celebrate the marriage of my niece, Rachel to Ben. It was a joyous occasion full of much love, support & affection for a wonderful couple, who are both thoroughly gorgeous human beings. They deserve each other. It was also …
With Deb on a plane to Italy very soon (niece’s wedding as well as a catch up with Alice and Wil) we were looking very carefully at the potential weather windows to get back to Tahiti. It has been a series of fairly strong marasmus with little break in between, so it was looking a …
Compared to Papeete, Uturoa the capital of Raiatea, seemed very small, but it appeared to have all that we required. We were greeted by a patisserie full of sumptuous pastries & a choice of 3 supermarkets & an undercover produce market from which to purchase supplies. There are also some quite decent artisan outlets offering …
After our wonderful experiences in Huahine, I wasn’t quite sure how Raiatea & Taha’a would stack up, but they haven’t disappointed! After a great 20nm downwind sail from Huahine, we entered through Pass Iriru or Maire & headed into Faaroa Bay – a deep bay into which 2 small rivers flow. One of them, Apoomau …
We’re currently sitting out a bit of a blow here in Huahine. Nothing too dramatic, but there is little protection from the SW wind in Avea Bay where we are sitting on a mooring. The reef keeps any swell out of course, but there is a fair old chop making trips in the dinghy a …
After a couple of week’s sojourn in England catching up with my close family, as well as a few brilliant days in beautiful Bruges with Wil, I returned to Tahiti to find that Bill had accomplished a myriad of boat chores in my absence. I must say historically this has always been the case – …